Postural sway following prolonged exposure to an inclined surface

Fatal and non-fatal falls from elevation have been documented to be a significant issue. Historically, roofing work has been ranked among the highest in incidents of falls. Recent literature has indicated that exposure to inclined surfaces (roof) has a detrimental effect on postural stability. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine if postural instability was found to increase following extended exposure to an inclined surface. Twenty-three participants were pre/post tested under four postural stability conditions while varying duration exposure (0.0–2.0 h) to an inclined surface. Dependent variable postural sway measures were calculated from center of pressure data derived from a portable force plate. The results indicate significant differences between pre and post-exposure measures. Specifically, the results imply that an individual is less stable directly after performing tasks on an inclined surface. These findings contribute to the literature and serve as a basis for further research into work rest cycles for those individuals who routinely work on inclined surfaces.